Joseph Coelho, Fiona Lumbers (illus)
Andersen PressAge 3-5

Luna really looks forward to library day, she meets her dad there and it is a day to build shared memories; full of stories, adventure and love. They explore the shelves together finding books about magic, mysteries and monsters and choosing books to check out. Luna finds out that dad isn’t keen on bugs and also about his childhood when he shows her a history book with black and white pictures. They curl up together to share a fairy story about a troll king who decides to leave his mermaid queen but even so retains a deep love for his princess daughter, just like Luna and her dad.

This is a sensitive and exuberant story about the love parents have for their children even if they separate. The story within a story reflecting this theme makes this book extra special. The illustrations are delightful adding lots of detail and touches of humour, look out for what happens when Luna opens a book about bugs! This story also celebrates libraries, the treasures to be found there, the pleasure of sharing this experience with a loved one and the delight in taking home your chosen books to enjoy again.

Share the story

Read aloudRead the story aloud, allowing time to talk about what is happening in the story or pictures when your child wants to. Children will notice different things when they share the book again with you and may enjoy looking at the book on their own too.

Join inWhen you read it again children might like to join in with parts for example the repeated ‘check’ for books chosen. It would be fun to make faces just like dad does about the books about bugs.

Talk about the story

Talk about all the things Luna loved about library day, when she feels happy and what makes her sad

Look at the pictures on the end papers at the back of the book – what are the children reading?

What special things do children like sharing with an adult in their lives ( whether they live together or apart).

Watch the storyThe author and illustrator read the story together.

Things to make and do

Visit your libraryLook out for some of the books Luna found eg big books, books about bugs or books with magic tricks. Can you find any fairy stories? Choose a story to share in the library. Choose books to borrow and take home and find out how to check them out.

Make your own library at homeCollect together some different kinds of books and arrange them on a shelf or cupboard. Can you find different kinds of books for your library? For example, information books, story books, big books and little books? You can include the books you have borrowed from the library and choose a few others of your own if you have them. Make a label for your library like Luna has.

Find a special place to share storiesThis might be a chair or a bed – is it ‘As soft as a teddy bear’s hug?’ or ‘as cosy as…..

Make a bookChildren could make up their own story about a Troll King, a Mermaid Queen and their princess daughter. You could make it up together and write it down and children could illustrate it.